Courtyard House: Home Alone

Although Jia Gui also worked at Lou's Steel Rolling Mill, and was somewhat irresponsible and selfish, he wasn't stupid. He knew very well that Lin Yifan, a seven-year-old child, couldn't possibly be the murderer who killed dozens of Japanese soldiers.

Jia Zhangshi's fuss is utterly unreasonable and could even bring her annihilation. In those days, if you offend the Japanese, you might not even know how you died.

Jia Zhangshi was rendered speechless by Jia Gui's words. Her face turned pale and then red. She lowered her hand that was covering her face and her eyes were filled with resentment. However, she dared not retaliate against Jia Gui. Instead, she vented her anger on Lin Yifan and glared at him fiercely.

At this moment, the others who heard the commotion in the courtyard also came out. He Daqing came to Lin Yifan's side and patted his head.

He said to Jia Gui, "Brother Jia Gui, I'm not trying to be mean, but you really need to keep a close eye on your wife. She dares to say such things; she's trying to bring trouble to our courtyard."

Jia Gui forced an awkward smile and cupped his hands in greeting to He Daqing: "Brother He is right. It's my fault for not disciplining them properly, and I'm sorry everyone has to laugh at me."

As he spoke, he glared fiercely at Jia Zhangshi again, "Why aren't you getting back inside! Are you waiting to get beaten?"

Jia Zhangshi was finally frightened by Jia Gui's shout and the subtle disdainful glances from the neighbors. She muttered, "You're all ganging up on me."

He returned to the west wing in a huff, slammed the door shut, and locked all his resentment inside.

Seeing that there was no excitement to be had, Li Ermazi sheepishly shrank back and closed his own door.

Grandpa Zhang in the front yard breathed a sigh of relief and waved to Lin Yifan and Jia Gui: "Go away, go away. It's a special time, so let's all keep quiet and avoid saying anything."

He Daqing patted Lin Yifan on the shoulder and whispered, "Xiaofan, go back inside, don't take it to heart."

Lin Yifan nodded and glanced at Jia Gui. Jia Gui was also looking at him at that moment, his eyes filled with complex emotions, a hint of detachment, and something else that was hard to define.

He forced a smile that looked more like a grimace: "Xiao Fan, I'm sorry, I made you laugh. Your Aunt Zhang is just... she's just been frightened these past few days and is talking nonsense, don't take it to heart."

Lin Yifan remained noncommittal, simply looking at him: "Uncle Jia, keep your men in check. If anyone points fingers at me or utters foul language again, it won't be resolved with just a slap."

His tone was calm, but the coldness in his eyes sent a chill down Jia Gui's spine. He suddenly realized that this seven-year-old child seemed different from before.

Those eyes seemed to hold something unfathomable, unfathomable, making one afraid to look directly at them.

"Yes, yes, you're right, Xiao Fan." Jia Gui nodded and bowed hurriedly. "I will definitely discipline her properly and never let her cause you any more trouble."

After saying that, he dared not linger any longer and hurriedly returned to the east wing, as if a demon was chasing him.

The courtyard fell completely silent. Grandpa Zhang breathed a sigh of relief, walked over, and patted Lin Yifan on the shoulder: "Xiaofan, it's alright. Don't get angry with that kind of person. Go back inside and lock the door."

Han Fengzhi also stepped forward, looking at Lin Yifan with concern: "Yes, Xiaofan, go back quickly. Stay in this courtyard and avoid contact with them as much as possible."

Lin Yifan nodded and thanked Grandpa Zhang and Han Fengzhi: "Thank you, Grandpa Zhang, thank you, Aunt He. I understand."

He didn't say anything more, turned around and walked towards his two main rooms in the backyard. Sunlight streamed through the courtyard skylight, falling on his thin back, yet it seemed to carry a heavy weight of power.

Back in his room, Lin Yifan bolted the door. He sat down on the bed, and the calm on his face slowly faded, replaced by a coldness.

Jia Zhangshi, Jia Gui, Li Ermazi... and those indifferent neighbors in the courtyard. In this cannibalistic age, the ugliness of human nature is laid bare.

He knew this was just the beginning. To stay safely in this courtyard, to gather the strength to rebel, he had to be stronger and more ruthless than anyone else!

Outside the door, the faint sounds of Jia Zhangshi's suppressed sobs and Jia Gui's impatient shouts could be heard, but none of this could affect Lin Yifan's state of mind.

Suddenly, he noticed a shadowy figure walking past the side corridor, its target likely the deaf old woman's room, and judging from the figure, it should be Yi Zhonghai from the Central Courtyard.

Lin Yifan's spirits lifted; someone sneaking around like this at this time was definitely up to no good. So he lay down on the kang (heated brick bed) and used his mind to "look" over there.

Yi Zhonghai arrived at the deaf old woman's door and gently knocked: "Mrs. Long, please open the door, I need to speak with you!"

He knocked a few times, but there was no response from inside. Yi Zhonghai frowned slightly, then increased the pressure and called out again in a low voice, "Mrs. Long? Are you home? It's me, Zhonghai."

This time, slow footsteps finally came from inside the door, and then the latch was gently pulled open, revealing the still-refined face of the deaf old woman. Her voice was slightly hoarse as she asked, "Is that Zhonghai? I was asleep just now. What is it? Why are you looking for me at this hour?"

Yi Zhonghai quickly glanced around, and seeing that no one in the yard was paying attention, he lowered his voice, slipped into the house, and closed the door behind him.

Lin Yifan watched all this through his mind, a cold smile playing on his lips. He wanted to see what this twenty-nine-year-old "Celestial Venerable of Morality" was up to in his sneaky scheme.

The room was dimly lit. "Sit down, Zhonghai," the deaf old woman said, pointing to the stool by the table.

Yi Zhonghai didn't sit down; instead, he seemed somewhat anxious. He rubbed his hands together, paced around the room a couple of times, and then stopped to look at the deaf old woman.

He asked in a grave tone, "Mrs. Long, have you heard? Last night, several dozen more Imperial Army soldiers were killed in the city."

A barely perceptible flicker of emotion flashed in the deaf old woman's cloudy eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. She slowly sat down, picked up the pipe on the table, and began to pack tobacco: "Oh? Is that so? I didn't ask when Tang Ergou brought people to investigate this morning."

"How could you not know!"

Yi Zhonghai's voice unconsciously rose a few decibels, then he quickly lowered it again, "The city is practically turned upside down today! The Japanese devils and their collaborators are arresting people everywhere! I heard that more than forty Imperial Army soldiers have died! This Beiping city is probably not going to be peaceful!"

The deaf old woman lit her pipe, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled the smoke before saying unhurriedly, "No peace? If the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up."

We ordinary folks should just mind our own business and live our own lives. Why are you telling me all this? Besides, you didn't come to me today to ask about this, did you?

Xiao Yi, you've been with me for over ten years now. With me, just put away your little schemes and say what's on your mind."